hodges



(No Model.)

P. H. HODGES.

BANJO-TAIL PIECE.

No. 349,308. Patented Sept. 21, 1886.

JV 2 F344- w 00 0 cm 15 amass Jizrmztarx UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK H. HODGES, OF NEVPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

BANJO TAIL-Pi ECE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent; No. 349,308, dated September 21. 1886.

Application filed September 20, 18

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. Honons, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Newport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Tail-Pieee tor Banjos, of whieh the following is a specifimtion.

My invention relates to banjo tail-pieces, the object being to provide a tail-piece by which thestri ngs when attached will be brought near the head of the banjo, thereby holding the bridge firmly in plaee and improving the tone ot the instrument, besides enabling the strain on the strings to be distributed, so as to diminish wear and allow the instrument to be tuned to a high key without risleot' injury.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in whieh Figure 1 is a representation of my invention attached to the banjo, showing thestrings as itis intended they should be attached thereto, and the manner in which the strings are brought down to the head of the instrument. Fig. 2 is atop view and represents the tail-pieee as it lies over the rim of the banjo. Fig. 3 represents a. vertieal seetion ot' the entire tail-pieee on the lineN O of Fig. 2, and shows the manner of tastening the strings, how the strain on'the strings is distributed, and how they are brought down near the head of the instrument; and Fig. 4c is a section on the line L M of Fig. 2, and repre sents the bar to which the strings are first attached and my improvement in attaching strings thereto.

Similar letters ret'erto similar parlsthrtmgh out the several views.

Ais a round metal bar with sunk notches.

B is a round metal bar having five grooves passing around it.

C is the metal wire passing through and eon- :neoting A and B, and t'orming with them the tailpiece.

D I) represent the. strings of the banjo as they appear when using my invention.

five eountere5. Serial N0.1TS,31U.

(No model.)

E is a nut.

F represents a bridge.

G is the banjorim.

H is the head.

I and K indieate the eountersunk notehes in the bar A.

J shows the grooves in the bar B.

The round metal bars A and B, with the wire frame 0, constitute the tailpiece as in vented by me, and the parts are put together substantially as shown. The shape may be ehanged to adapt the tail-piece to any banjo.

In stringing up the instrument a knot is tied in the end of the string 1), and the end of the string placed in the countersunk notch I. The string is then passed with an underturn around the bar B and drawn tight, the string resting in the groove J. Then proceed as with other tai 1 pi eces.

I am aware that prior to my invention tailpieees have been made with the wire l'rame (J and a smooth bar in plaee ot" the bar B. to whieh the strings are tied. I do not theret'ore claim the wire 0 or the shape in which it is made, broadly; but

\Vhat I do claim as my invention. and desire to seeure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A banjo tailpieee eomposed ol' the bar A, having a series of countersunk notches, the bar B, having a series of cireumt'erential grooves, and the frame G, for eounecting said bars, substantially as deseribed.

2. The combination of the bridge F, the bar B, having a series of cireumt'erential grooves, the bar A, provided with a series of counter sunk notches, the strings D, secured. to said bars, the bit'ureated frame 0, and the nut E, for seeuring said frame to the head of a banjo, substantially as described.

FREDERICK II. HODGES.

Witnesses:

BENJ. A. JACKSON, WILLIAM H. SwEE'rLANn. 

